Anxiety!!!!!

jackipinker · November 2014

I'm 22 weeks and my anxiety is coming back full force! J was on celexa before getting pregnant but weened off once I found out I was pregnant. I'm starting to have panic and obsessive thoughts! Help what did you guys do to help with it? I really don't want to go on meds again

MalVough · November 2014

My OB insists that to have a healthy baby, you need a healthy mom.

I'm on Effexor and will try to come off starting in January. We want to avoid the baby withdrawing. But if it doesn't work, my OB is completely comfortable with me staying on the medication and making sure the pediatrician is paying attention to possible withdraw symptoms.

Baby girl is growing right on target and all tests point to a perfectly healthy baby. I still have my moments because... hormones... but the meds have definitely kept me grounded more often than not.

If the overall effects are minimal, I'd say go back on the medication so you can remain healthy -- body and mind.

jackipinker · November 2014

Seriously All I do is cry. And work is a constant battle. Shit everyday is a mental battle. I worry so much about how I feel and having a panic attack I make myself sick

MrsPope1770 · November 2014

I feel your pain and I am going to have to get my doctor to put me back on meds. I have been insane and having severe mood instability--from uncontrollable anger to really difficult anxiety to just plain weepiness. For the last week I have been completely anti-social. I can't focus to get anything done and then that makes it even worse. I have ADD and anxiety, and my medication had ALL of my symptoms under control. I came off of it when I got pregnant since its a stimulant (Vyvanse), but they are going to have to find something to help. I can't go through this for the rest of my pregnancy---I will end up divorced. I was so anti meds and when I brought it up to my OB she recommended going back to my talk therapist---it has gotten infinitely worse since I spoke with her, though.

mangomimosa · November 2014

MalVough said:

My OB insists that to have a healthy baby, you need a healthy mom. I'm on Effexor and will try to come off starting in January. We want to avoid the baby withdrawing. But if it doesn't work, my OB is completely comfortable with me staying on the medication and making sure the pediatrician is paying attention to possible withdraw symptoms. Baby girl is growing right on target and all tests point to a perfectly healthy baby. I still have my moments because... hormones... but the meds have definitely kept me grounded more often than not. If the overall effects are minimal, I'd say go back on the medication so you can remain healthy -- body and mind.

You're not asking for advice so disregard if this is annoying --- but I went off Effexor before my wedding & it was really rough. It's one of the toughest meds to wean from. I had 75 mg capsules. IIRC each one had about 75 granules in it (yes, I counted). I would take apart the Effexor caps and remove 5-10 gr each week. So week one I was taking 65 granules, week two 60 granules, etc. I would do 5 or 10 decrease each week based on withdrawal symptoms. I kept a ridiculously careful record of what I was taking, so I wouldn't get confused. I was also using empty gelatin capsules to save the removed granules -- so I made a week's worth of 10-granule capsules, and a week of 5-granule capsules, etc as I was going along. Then at the end I was just taking these clear gel caps with 5-10 granules each.

In all it was probably 2 months of weaning (and that was just from 75 mg to 0. I had been taking 225mg at one point.). I did get the brain shocks and some serious dizziness during my wean... and some **MAJOR** emotional lability for about 1-2 weeks afterwards. I was like -- seriously, I was taking 5mg of Effexor last week and my brain is missing THAT?! If I had to do it again I'd go down to 3, then 1 granule over an extra week at the end. I can't imagine tapering even slower than I did, but the slower, the better. But it was tolerable.

FWIW I have taken care of a ton of newborns withdrawing from SSRI's/SNRI's & sure-- they're fussy, maybe a bit jittery. But nothing terrible, and NOTHING compared to babies from moms using opioids, etc. Good luck!

jackipinker · November 2014

Omg getting off of celexa was
Completely awful. It took forever and was the worst thing I've ever done! I swore I would never go back on it because if the wheening off. But honestly I think I'm a lifer! I have generalized anxiety and OCD thoughts not compulsions and this time of year my anxiety always heightens. I called my Gyno just waiting to hear back. If I could stay in my house 24/7 I'd be fine but that's not life. I'm just scared of defects with baby and being in med. I would live to go the natural root but no one seems to know anything about that because they obviously study medicine not herbs. I also am meeting with a dulah (sp) to see if she has any advice

MalVough · November 2014

mangomimosa said:

MalVough said:

My OB insists that to have a healthy baby, you need a healthy mom.

I'm on Effexor and will try to come off starting in January. We want to avoid the baby withdrawing. But if it doesn't work, my OB is completely comfortable with me staying on the medication and making sure the pediatrician is paying attention to possible withdraw symptoms.

Baby girl is growing right on target and all tests point to a perfectly healthy baby. I still have my moments because... hormones... but the meds have definitely kept me grounded more often than not.

If the overall effects are minimal, I'd say go back on the medication so you can remain healthy -- body and mind.

You're not asking for advice so disregard if this is annoying --- but I went off Effexor before my wedding & it was really rough. It's one of the toughest meds to wean from. I had 75 mg capsules. IIRC each one had about 75 granules in it (yes, I counted). I would take apart the Effexor caps and remove 5-10 gr each week. So week one I was taking 65 granules, week two 60 granules, etc. I would do 5 or 10 decrease each week based on withdrawal symptoms. I kept a ridiculously careful record of what I was taking, so I wouldn't get confused. I was also using empty gelatin capsules to save the removed granules -- so I made a week's worth of 10-granule capsules, and a week of 5-granule capsules, etc as I was going along. Then at the end I was just taking these clear gel caps with 5-10 granules each.

In all it was probably 2 months of weaning (and that was just from 75 mg to 0. I had been taking 225mg at one point.). I did get the brain shocks and some serious dizziness during my wean... and some **MAJOR** emotional lability for about 1-2 weeks afterwards. I was like -- seriously, I was taking 5mg of Effexor last week and my brain is missing THAT?! If I had to do it again I'd go down to 3, then 1 granule over an extra week at the end. I can't imagine tapering even slower than I did, but the slower, the better. But it was tolerable.

FWIW I have taken care of a ton of newborns withdrawing from SSRI's/SNRI's & sure-- they're fussy, maybe a bit jittery. But nothing terrible, and NOTHING compared to babies from moms using opioids, etc. Good luck!

*******

I've gone off Effexor before, when I lost my insurance after college. It was a bitch.

This psych is going to take it slooooow... we'll be starting the weaning process on Jan. 13. That gives us 2+ months (with no surprises) of weaning. I'm not looking forward to it... the dizziness is crazy. But I think we have a better plan in place than the first time, so that calms the nerves.

*fingers crossed* for everything going as planned! [-O<

Unknown · November 2014

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drudolph11 · November 2014

I did the same thing. I was on Effexor when I got pregnant but went off as soon as I found out I was pregnant. For me, though, I had been working to ween off of my meds for months before I found out that I was pregnant because I was planning on trying to go off completely. Getting pregnant just expedited the process (since my BFP was a complete surprise). My doctor was actually against it because I have addiction issues that are directly related to my anxiety issues but I promised that if I started to have any type of anxiety issues that I would go back on my meds right away. I had actually been really good up until about a month ago when I had a pretty serious panic attack while at work. I contemplated going back on meds but ultimately decided to heed it as a warning and if I were to have one more I would go back on my meds right away. I have not had another one since then. For me that was an isolated incident but for you if you are having continuing anxiety issues I would suggest def talking to your doctor about going back on your meds. Maybe you can discuss the possibility of trying a smaller dose than what you were on before and seeing how that helps for a while. Ultimately this is about keeping yourself and your baby healthy and I feel as though the risks of going back on meds far outweigh the risks you may encounter by trying to push through the anxiety. There is absolutely no shame what so ever at going back on your meds. Please take care of yourself. Im sorry you have to go through this, I know how hard it can be.

jacqueleen1 · November 2014

You have some great advice from pp. Talk to your OB. Mine decided it was safer for me to stay on meds than come off

thejucheidea · November 2014

I stayed on both of my psych meds (Wellbutrin and Lamictal) per my psychiatrist's orders and with the blessing of my OB. Neither doctor wanted me to be an unmedicated bipolar person -- it's so much safer to stay on the meds than to go off of them.

akj166 · November 2014

I was on a small dose of Paxil for years for anxiety. It took me months of weening and debilitating head zaps and breakdowns. After a full year without meds, I started seeing a specialist who told me zoloft and Prozac was ok to take in small doses while pregnant. I started taking zoloft in April and conceived in June. I have been taking 37.5mg of zoloft throughout and have had no troubles and a perfectly healthy baby girl. It is important to be in the right frame of mind for yourself and for the baby. I'm not saying I don't have my days, they are just fewer and far between. Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope you are able to find some relief:)

Joon+ · November 2014

I agree with pretty much everything above. I have been on meds for anxiety, depression and OCD most of my adult life. When I started trying to get pregnant, I was on Paxil, which is (controversially) associated with some increased risks to a developing baby. I switched to Prozac and got pregnant shortly after, but completely bottomed out and had the worst nervous breakdown of my life at 6 weeks. I'm still recovering now, at 24. I eventually switched to Effexor and that has helped me re-establish my footing, but my doctor does want me to try to cut the dose down in third tri in hopes the baby will suffer less withdrawal.

I have had a lot of guilt about exposing him to any withdrawal at all, but I know a few days of potential discomfort that he won't remember carry far less consequences than an entire gestational period of stress and poor self-care by his mother.

Another important thing to note r.e. meds is that most (if not all?) of the SSRIs/SNRIs pose a higher risk during first tri than later in pregnancy, even though the risk is still very low.

Best of luck OP - I hope you find the help and support you need and feel no shame in doing so.

jackipinker · November 2014

Thank you everyone! It's so nice to not be alone. I have a appt on mon to talk to my Gyno. Here to breathing the weekend away lol!

Ardmhs83 · November 2014

I agree with the ladies here that have already posted. No need for you to suffer like that, I'm sorry you are dealing with this! I can speak for postpartum mood disorders, that is how my anxiety and stuff kicked in anyway. I'm also still on my medication (Serequel) b/c I feel human on it and have felt great throughout my pregnancy, so far. I did wean down to a small 25mg dose, and I plan to stay on it b/c the postpartum period will probably be worse for me if not. Talk to your doctor and do what is best for you...a happy and healthy you=a happy and healthy baby. Talk to your doula about placenta encapsulation too... that may help postpartum.

Edited b/c words are hard this morning!

jackipinker · November 2014

Is anyone scared of the side effects of medication in baby??

mem0601 · November 2014

My psychiatrist and OB made me stop everything: Effexor, Klonopin, Perphenazine, Gabapentin, Ambien. It's been over three months and my functioning is terrible. I get complimented for appearing fine but the extreme pain inside is always there. I prefer not to leave the house and can "pretend" to be fine if I have to but with enormous distress that goes invalidated because apparently I can hide it well. It's a terrible spot to be in. Those of you who found doctors who could give you what you needed are lucky.

lisap0924 · November 2014

I weaned off celexa before getting pregnant. I've had a few moments here and there, but over all I am OK. I try to be very conscious of it, and it seems to help.
I'm very worried about PPD, so I may or may not go back on after baby.
But I agree with others that weaning off was HORRIBLE! I would rather not deal with that again, but I would much rather feel normal and not crazy.

lisap0924 · November 2014

mem0601 said:
My psychiatrist and OB made me stop everything: Effexor, Klonopin, Perphenazine, Gabapentin, Ambien. It's been over three months and my functioning is terrible. I get complimented for appearing fine but the extreme pain inside is always there. I prefer not to leave the house and can "pretend" to be fine if I have to but with enormous distress that goes invalidated because apparently I can hide it well. It's a terrible spot to be in. Those of you who found doctors who could give you what you needed are lucky.

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this pain. Have you told your doctors just how hard it is? Maybe they can suggest something else?!
How about a second opinion? Or a new doctor that will help you?

You don't deserve to feel like this!

jackipinker · November 2014

I've been giving these natural remedies a try and they really seem to help. They are from Bach. They are called flower remedies and you add them to your water and I swear they really help me! They are safe for pregnant women. I found them at my my grocery store GiantvEagle

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